New Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures show 32 employees in Scotland died during 2007/08, while almost 12,000 employees were injured.

The HSE has urged Scottish employers "not to take their eyes off the ball", especially during times of financial woes for many businesses.

The report published today also found during the same period that 113,000 people in Scotland were suffering from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work, while an estimated 3.3 million days were lost due to work-related ill health and injury.

The HSE director for Scotland, Paul Stollard, stressed: "The number of fatal injuries to workers in Scotland continues to cause concern at 32. This is little changed on last year but represents a larger proportion of self-employed people who have died as result of their work. Agricultural and construction work are once again the most dangerous."

HSE chair Judith Hackitt added: "Any improvement in the number of people being injured or made ill by work must be welcomed. However, there is a need for a step change.

"Of particular concern are the agriculture, construction and waste and recycling industries. I am also concerned that slips and trips – which can have an enormous impact on peoples' lives – are still not reducing."

Pointing to a new strategy developed by HSE on commitment to tackling health and safety, she urged "employers not to take their eyes off the ball".

"Good business management will be vital and good health and safety management is an integral part of that. Health and safety contributes positively to competitiveness and should not be sacrificed in times of financial pressure."